Monday, December 13, 2010

PasiCats' Pikkujoulu warms Brownstone Hall with song, dance

By Michele Bourdieu

On Sunday, Dec. 12, Pasi Lautala on accordion, Oren Tikkanen on banjo and Dave Bezotte on keyboard -- joined by singer Megan Plis -- lead the Pikkujoulu (Finnish Little Christmas) audience in singing Christmas carols in Finnish and English at the newly remodeled Brownstone Hall in Atlantic Mine. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

ATLANTIC MINE -- The first ever Pikkujoulu (Finnish Little Christmas), hosted Sunday, Dec. 12, by the PasiCats at the newly remodeled Brownstone Hall in Atlantic Mine, was an international, intercultural event. Despite the cold, snowy weather, the festivities attracted a diverse group of Finns, Finnish-Americans and others from local communities as well as international students from Michigan Tech.

Finnish students from Michigan Tech University helped lead the singing of Christmas carols in their own Finnish language during the Dec. 12 Pikkujoulu (Finnish Little Christmas), hosted by the PasiCats at the Brownstone Hall in Atlantic Mine. Pictured here are, from left, clockwise, Janne Vartiainen, Outi Vartiainen, Jukka Simila, Linda Kartano and Hanna Nummila.

The audience first enjoyed singing along with Christmas Carols in both Finnish and English, accompanied by Pasi Lautala on accordion; Oren Tikkanen on banjo, guitar and mandolin; and Dave Bezotte on keyboard. Song sheets with the Finnish words were provided. Pasi was joined by Finnish students from Michigan Tech in leading the Finnish carols, and a young singer, Megan Plis, who led the singing in English. Some favorites -- like "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells" -- were sung in both languages.

Finnish students from Michigan Tech join Pasi Lautala on accordion and Oren Tikkanen on guitar in singing Finnish songs.

After the singing, dancers warmed up fast to the PasiCats' repertoire of waltzes, polkas, fox trots, country tunes and even tango and humppa.

Dancers do a lively Finnish schottische to "Deck the Halls." Joining Lautala and Tikkanen to play dance music are PasiCats "Paris" (Bob) Hiltunen and Mike LaBeau.

Meg Pachmayer and Anna Leppanen of Finnsight offered yummy baked goods, hot coffee and the irresistible glögi -- a hot and spicy fruit punch with secret ingredients revealed only to those who bought a Christmas card with the recipe. Shopping bags, CDs, and flash cards for learning Finnish were also available for sale.*

Launching their new business, Finnsight, are Meg Pachmayer, left, and Anna Leppanen. Among the homemade goodies they sold at Pikkujoulu were prune cookies, cinnamon rolls, cake with mocha frosting and, to drink -- glögi and Finnish coffee.

According to the Finnsight Web site, the new company will soon be selling Finnish products online. Their purpose is to preserve Finnish language and culture by creating and designing Finnish-themed gift items and educational tools for people with Finnish roots, Finnish friends, or just a Finnish interest.

These Iranian students -- all graduate students at Michigan Tech -- ventured out in the cold to learn about Finnish customs, songs and dances at the Dec. 12 Pikkujoulu celebration in Brownstone Hall. Pictured from left are Amir Gheitasi,Kosur Khaksari, Hosna Ajilian and Hamed Pouryousef.

Susie Landers and her husband, Tim Landers, are responsible for the transformation of the old St. Mary's Hall into the Brownstone Hall -- a new venue for dances, parties, wedding receptions and more.

Susi Landers, right, joins Anna Leppanen at the Finnsight table during Pikkujoulu. Landers and her husband, Tim Landers, owners of Brownstone Hall, have been working hard for months to remodel the building.

"We purchased it in July 2010," Susie Landers said. "We've been working 24-7 since then trying to get it up and running."

The beautiful wood floor, the stage and chandeliers are welcome additions for any event. The kitchen is still in the process of being remodeled.

The Hall is already being reserved for wedding receptions, Susie noted. After Jan. 1, 2011, she hopes to have a schedule of events.

More photos of Pikkujoulu:

Pikkujoulu is a family tradition. Riikka Hepokoski and her husband, Mark Hepokoski, who recently moved to Hancock from Tampere, Finland, brought their children, dressed in festive Finnish outfits, to share in the fun. Riika is pictured here with three of them -- from left, Johan, 9; Greta, 7; and Brita, 4. Baby Anna, 6 months, is not pictured but was all snuggled in her basket.

Dancers Debbie Stouffer and Chuck Kautto drove all the way from Herman for the event.

Here's hoping the PasiCats will make Pikkujoulu an annual Copper Country tradition!

Tickets are $19 for adults, $6 for youth, and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at (906) 487-2073, online at Rozsa.mtu.edu, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box Office which opens two hours prior to the performance.

Slide Show: Christmas in Calumet 2016

Christmas in Calumet continues this Saturday, Dec. 10, with wagon rides, visits with Santa at the Vertin Gallery, and more. Click on the photo above to see our slide show of Calumet on Dec. 3: the Poor Artists Sale, Santa, and art gallery exhibits. Click on any photo and follow the arrows. To read captions, click on the info icon.

+News Briefs / Announcements

Family and support people for individuals living with serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, can register for a free course from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)/Keweenaw Area chapter. The series of 12 sessions is structured to help caregivers understand and support individuals while maintaining their own well-being. The course, designated an evidence-based practice by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is taught by a team of trained NAMI family member volunteers who know what it is like to have a loved one struggling with one of these brain disorders. Classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Houghton. They are for support people only. Pre-Registration is required and is open now. Call Bill or Barry Elizabeth Fink at 482-4632.......Do you participate in a book group? The Portage Lake District Library is creating a list of local book groups for all ages and would like to hear about yours. Useful information includes the name of your group and contact person, a theme if you have one, and dates and time that you meet. Please also say if your book group is for adults, teens, or grade school students. For more information, please call Chris at the library at 482-4570.......Storytime for the school year at the Portage Lake District Library is held from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. Young children are invited to come for stories, craft projects, occasional music, and lots of fun. For special Storytimes on Saturdays, please look for announcements on library posters and on the library’s website. Children are also encouraged to use the Children’s Listening Center at the library to enjoy music, foreign languages, and stories on CDs. Up to four people at a time can use the equipment, including parents who want to help their children learn another language or simply enjoy music or a good book together. Please ask a librarian to help you get started. All library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......HEET (Houghton Energy Efficiency Team) is planning a 2016 Winterization Campaign and Efficiency Challenge. Local businesses, organizations and church groups are getting involved. HEET has moved into a new office in Hancock at 422 Quincy St. in Hancock. Click here for info.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club

Houghton County Democratic Party

Waste Management Garbage and Recycling new schedule for Hancockstarted on Sept. 12, 2016.- All items need to be out by 7 a.m.-Weekly same day pick up for garbage and recycling (using a new dual garbage truck)-Pick Up Day Change affects some neighborhoods:-East of Elevation Street will be on Monday.-West of Elevation Street will be on Wednesday.*Pick up for residents living on Elevation, S. Elevation and N. Elevation Streets will be on WEDNESDAY.-Any container will work for recycling. Some people are painting or taping (recycling) on the bins they now use or you can purchase a new recycling bin from McGann’s or Risto’s.-Single stream will continue for all items including glass and clean pizza boxes!-Service is also available to small commercial.-The City still has a recycling drop off at the DPW Garage (1601 Tomasi Drive)QUESTIONS: Call Bill Marlor, DPW, 482-1480 or Glenn Anderson, City Manager, 482-1121.Click here for Waste Management's new list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling.Thank you for your participation.

Slide Show: 2015 Parade of Nations

Click on the photo above to access this slide show. Then click on the first photo and follow the right arrows. To view the captions click on the info icon.

Slide Shows: Family fun with science, more ...

Our recent slide shows highlight the Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) community events held Aug. 4 - 6, 2016; the 2016 Keweenaw Science Fair winners honored by Carnegie Museum; and the Lake Superior Celebration at GLRC in April 2016.

The new slide shows can be accessed as follows: Click here or on the photo above for the slide show of the Aug. 5, 2016, Keweenaw Water Festival at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Click here for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 Keweenaw Science and Engineering (KSEF) family events held in Houghton's Kestner Waterfront Park, and click here for photos of some 2016 Science Fair winners and highlights of the April 26, 2016, Lake Superior Celebration sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, the Copper Country Recycling Initiative and more. For each slide show, click on the first photo in the album and click the info icon in the top right corner for the caption. Then click on forward arrows to view the photos as a slide show.

Copyright Policy

For our copyright policy, please click here or email us if you wish to use any of the photos or video clips by Keweenaw Now. Photos by guest photographers are copyrighted and you must seek their permission for re-use. This policy applies to the photos in our slide shows as well. Please do not share photos taken by guest photographers without their permission.

Eagle Rock, 2010: Slide show

In May 2010, concerned Native and non-Native citizens camped, prayed and planted a garden at Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, which was blasted for the portal to the Rio-Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine. The mine, now in operation, was sold to Lundin Mining Corporation of Toronto. Click on photo above to access a photo album on Eagle Rock protests in May 2010. Click on the first photo in the album and then on the info icon to view captions if they are not visible on the right. To view the photos as a slide show, click on the forward arrows.

Keweenaw Now is on TWITTER. Scroll down this column to see our latest Tweets.

Save the Wild UP

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

Friends of the Land of Keweenaw

Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition's mission is protecting and maintaining the unique environmental qualities of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by educating the public and acting as a watchdog to industry and government. Visit UPEC on Facebook.

Portage Lake District Library

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District

HKCD's 2016 Tree Sale has found a home for every tree and plant. Gina Nicholas, HKCD president, thanks the volunteers and friends who helped make the sale a success. HKCD donated some plants and trees to the school gardens at Calumet, Chassell and Houghton. "It is great that the schools are helping children gain first hand experience about gardening and where the food we eat comes from," Nicholas said.

Save the Water's Edge

Finlandia University

Stewards of Bete Grise Preserve

A Rascal's Craft

The poetic musings of Eelu Kiviranta, a Finnish immigrant and self-proclaimed rascal. Side-by-side Finnish with English translation by Lillian Lehto. Introduction by Steve Lehto. Includes "The Copper Country Strike of 1913." Available from Amazon or the translator, 1419 Yosemite, Birmingham, MI 48009, $19.95. Click on cover to see Youtube video.

Distant Drum

Original clothing and wall pieces custom designed and sewn by Andrea Puzakulich in the Keweenaw for 25 years. Distant Drum is located in Hancock's Historic E.L.Wright Bldg. Open most weekday afternoons. Call ahead.

Calumet Art Center

Click above to learn about new classes starting in February 2016.

New edition of book by Steve Lehto

Click on book cover to access Steve's Facebook page on the Italian Hall disaster.

Red Circle Consulting

Mike Lahti at State Farm

Copper Country Community Arts Center

Keweenaw BEST!

Michigan League of Conservation Voters

What Is Sustainable

Author Richard Adrian Reese recounts how his life took a new direction after 9 years of simple living in the Keweenaw -- and offers a new worldview for a sustainable future.

Welcome to Keweenaw Now!

Welcome to our Keweenaw Now blog. This site, the sequel to the Web site www.keweenawnow.com, officially began on September 1, 2007. The Blogger format allows you, our readers, to comment on any post. Read our articles here and send us your comments and suggestions! Your comment will come to us on email (without showing your email address) and as long as it's not objectionable we will post it on the article page. Please note: Right now the comments do not appear on the home page; but, if you click on the headline of an article, it will go to the article's own (archive) page, where comments do appear and where you can reply to them. Click on the comment link below the article to send us a comment. Sometimes the number of comments is indicated on that link on the home page. It may take some time for it to appear.

In addition, Keweenaw Now offers editing -- including editing of scholarly papers in various fields -- and some translation services. We can also help you write or edit the text on your Web site.

Iraq death count

Weather

More stories in our Archives ...

If you missed one of our previous articles, you can find all of them archived through links in the right-hand column. Click on the week you missed, and the headlines of articles for that week will appear as links you can click on to read the story on its own page.